“Inadequate teaching” means a primary school has performed so badly in an inspection it has been given the bottom grade by a government watchdog and placed in the ‘special measures’ category.

But its headteacher says The Pines Primary School in Hanworth has made significant improvements in the few months since the inspection and staff have “risen to the challenge”.

The Hanworth Road school was given the bottom ‘inadequate’ rating for both its current standards and its capacity to improve by schools’ watchdog Ofsted after an inspection in earlier this year.

The ruling means the school will get government help to improve.

A report, published last month, says: “Her Majesty’s chief inspector is of the opinion that this school requires special measures because it is failing to give its pupils an acceptable standard of education and the persons responsible for leading, managing or governing the school are not demonstrating the capacity to secure the necessary improvement.”

“There is too much inadequate teaching which is not helping to improve pupils’ progress and they experience few good lessons.”

The report lists low expectations of what pupils can achieve, marking which gives pupils limited guidance, an inability to improve boys’ writing skills and insufficient monitoring of progress as reasons why the school is not performing.

But the inspector, Martin Beale, said the school has strong links with parents and recognised that “all members of staff share the headteacher’s commitment to the pupils and families”.

Being placed in special measures means The Pines will get additional funding and resources from the Government and the council, and will be frequently reappraised until Ofted deems that the school is no longer failing.

The managers and teaching staff can be dismissed and the governing body can be replaced.

Kathleen Nugent, headteacher at The Pines, said: “In the three months since the inspection staff have risen to the challenge and are making a determined drive to implement the changes needed to narrow the gap and bring attainment in line with expectations.

“Ofsted gave clear guidance on what needs to be done and some recommendations have already been implemented.

“We have, for example, already put in place a new system for tracking pupils’ progress and monitoring the impact of our actions.”

Janette Karkling, director of children, young people and learning at Bracknell Forest Council, said; “Since Ofsted inspectors visited the Pines Primary School in February the council has been working closely with the school to address the issues raised.

“The council will continue to provide the school with extra support in order to make the necessary improvements.”